Pump system



Feb, 13, 1923. 1,445,507.,

I 0. HAENTJENS.

PUMP SYSTEM.

FILED JAN. 30, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

VACUUM PUMP? CENTEIFU AL PUPIF.

8% E GZEZ MM Jm m ATTORNEY-5 orro HAENTJEN$, or i ater vere-n.

I ETON, PMSYLVABTIA,

rumr srs rmr.

Application filed January 80, 1922. serial No. 53%,7M.

' To all whom it concern:

Be it known that I, Orro HAENTJENS, a citizen of the German Republic, residing at Hazleton, in county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful, Improvements in Pum Systems,

of which. the following is a speci cation.

My invention relates to pump systems,

i and specifically to a priming system for centrifugal pumps, although certain features of the invention are applicable to other uses. One specific object of my invention is to provide a priming system in which the connection between the centrifugal and thepriming pump is made through a vacuum breaker which automatically unloads the priming pump after the centrifugal hasbeen properly primed.

Another specific object of my invention is to provide a priming system in which the primlng pump is automatically relieved from the pressure of the discharge from the centrifugal after the latter has been started, although the priming pump continues in action.

Another specific object of my invention is I to provide a priming system in which the priming pump is kept dry even after the centrifugal has been fully primed and started in operation.

Other objects of. invention, as well as improvements in construction, will be hereinafter described or shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a more or less diagrammatic side elevation of 'a priming system in which my invention is embodied in one form;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the vacuum breaker of Fig. 1, but drawn to an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a modified construction of the vacuum breaker.

It has become common practice, where cirof the centrifugal and its suction pipe are a. The liquid risi into the can trifugal, however, passes through the line connected to the priming ump, with the result that the latter is so denly called upon to handle a heavy liquid load. A severe strain s thereby imposed on the motor of the primmg pump, and where the latter is driven by a belt. the latter often jumps the motor pulley. I The motor must of course be strong enough to pull the priming pump underthe liquid load. events, the attendant awaits the discharge of llquid from the priming pump as the signal for starting the centrifugal pump, and inasmuch as some time elapses before the valve in the line between the priming and centrifugal pumps can be shut, the full discharge pressure of the centrifugal is transmitted to the priming pump. The latter must be of very heavy construction 'c-iently under way,-thus causing failure of the priming operation. Furthermore, it is not practical to put an ordinary check valve between the centrifugal and the priming pump, because the check valve When once closed will not open again unless the priming pump is first stopped and the vacuum destroyed. The present invention overcomes these difficulties.

' Referring to Fig. 1, the centrifugal pump 5. has associated therewith the usual suction inlet 6 and delivery outlet? A-pipe line 8 connected at 9 to the top of the centrifugal pump chamber, leads through a vacuum breaker, generally indicated by the reference 10, to a dry-operated priming pump 11.

In the ordinary course. of

This priming pump is preferably of the type shown n my copending application of even date, comprising a pair 'of working cylinders 12 and 13, to which the pipe line 8 opens through branch connections 14: and 15.

The particular form o'f vacuum pump, howllili 26. ticular location and means for operating 17 for connection with the riser portion a of the pipe line 8 from the centrifugal 5. A port 18 in the upper portion of the float chamber is connected to the ortion b of the pipe line 8 leading to the priming pump. Within the float chamber 1s arranged a float 19 and its associated lever 20 ivotedat 21 to the float chamber casting. check valve 22 is hung at 23 from the float lever 20, and serves, on the rise of the float to close the port 24 through which air or liquid enters the float chamber 16 from the centrifugal 5. k A second valve 25, pivoted at 26 to the float lever, normally closes the port 27 opening to air in the upper portion of the float chamber, and serving, when the valve is o ened, to. admit air to the line 8 at a point yond the crt' 24: through which connection is estab ished between the centrifugal and thefloat chamber. The parthis unloader valve 25 is .unim ortant, so

long as it serves the function 0 admitting air to the pipe line 8 after the centrifugal pump has been primed. I

Preferably associated with the check I valve 22 is a cylindrical housing 28 surrounding the body of the check valve, and of suflicientheight to accommodate the latter in all positions. The lower end of the housingis preferably closed, but its sides are provided with vertical slots 29, through which air and liquid from the centrifugal pump 5 are admitted under the suction efl'ort of the priming pump. On the rise of the check valve 22 in the housing 28, the

area of theopenings 29 above the valve is gradually diminished, thus reducing the admission to port 24 so that the check valve comes very gently to its seat. As the bottom of the housing is closed, the housing also acts as a dash pot which prevents the jum in of the float and valve.

he operation of the system is readily understood. When the priming pump is started, air is exhausted from the centrifugal pump 5 and its suction inlet 6, the air being drawn through the pipe line 8 Without impediment The float 19 falls, thus bringin since the float chamber 16 is empty, and the float is in its lowermost position, thus holding the check valve 22 wide open and the unloader valve 25 closed. When the centrifugal pump is primed and the liquid rises through the portion a of the pipe line 8 into the float chamber 16, the float 19 begins to rise, simultaneously lifting the check valve 22 toward closing position and the unloader valve 25 to open position. Air now enters.

the portion b of the pipe line 8 through the unloader valve 25, thus reducing the vacuum in the float chamber and permitting the liquid to run back toward the centrifugal 5'.

the unloader valve 25 nearer to its seat. e water level in the float chamber promptly adjusts auser.

atoms starts the latter. The drive of the centrifugal forces the liquid through the port 2i into the float chamber, thus causing the float 19 to rise rapidly and lift the check valve 22 to its seat at the port 24, simultaneously opening wide the unloader valve 25. As the check valve 22 rises, the inlet slots 29 are gradually, overrun, thus restricting the inlet therethrough and permitting the valve to come to its seat gently. The priming pump, which continues to operate, now derives its entire supply of air through the unloader valve port 27, which is of such proportions that a suflicient supply of air is admitted at this point to meet thecapactiy of the priming pump.

As soon as the centrifugal is running properly, the connection between the pump chamber and the line ,8 may be cutoff by closing the ,gate valve 30. When it becomes necessary to again prime the centrifugal 5, the opening of the valve 30 automatically drains the float chamber and portion a of the pipeline 8 so that the pruning pump sucks only air when it resumes operation.

As above intimated, the particular. arrangement of the flpat chamber and associated valves may be varied in many ways. Such a variation is indicated in Fig. 3, in which the float 31 is guided by ribs 32 in a narrow float chamber 33, and has at its head a valve 34 adapted to close the port 35 upon the rise of the float. The unloader valve 36 is mounted on a stem 37 rising from the top of the float 31, and normally seated in the unloader valve port 39 which opens to a chamber 38 above the float chamber. The portion 1) of the line 8 to the priming pump is connected to the chamber 38.

It will be clear from the foregoing that as soon as the centrifugal is properly primed, the rise of the float opens the vacuum breaker valve and unloads the priming pump so that .no liquid is drawn into the latter. Upon the closing of the check valve' pumps, a float for operating the check valve, together with an unloader valve arranged in said connection between the check valve and .the priming pump, and means for automati cally. opening the unloader valve when the centrifugal pump has been primed.

2. In a pump system, a centrifugal pump,

.a primlng pump therefor, a check valve arranged in the connection between said pumps,a float for operating the check valve, together with an unloader valve arranged in said connection between the check valve and the priming pump, and operated by said float to open the unloader valve when the centrifugal is primed.

3. In a pump system, a priming pump therefor, a check valve arranged 1n the connection between said pumps, an unloader valve arranged in said connection between the check valve and the priming pump, and float means for controlling said valves to at least partially close the check valve and at least the unloader valve when the centrifugal is primed, and thus establishing an equilibrium condition preventing the flow of liquid to a centrifugal pump,

partially open the priming pump on its continued operation after the centrifugal is primed.

4. In a pump system, a centrifugal pump, a priming pump therefor, means automatically operative after the centrifugal is primed for at'least partially relieving the vacuum created by the continued operation of the priming pump, while maintaining said centrifugal in primed condition, and means automatically cutting off connection between the priming and centrifugal pumps when the centrifugal is started.

5. In a a priming pump therefor, check and unloader valve means arranged in the connection between the centrifugal and the priming pump, means-for completely closing the check valve and completely opening the unloader valve of the discharge from'the centrifugal after the latter has been started and while the priming pump is still running.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification.

or'ro iii-tantrums.

under the pressure,

pump system, a centrifugal pump, 

